Type-writing clavier.



No. 700,906. Patented May 27, I902.

C. EDWARDS.

TYPE WRITING CLAVIER. (Application filed Sept. 16, 1901.)

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No. 700,906. Patented May 27, 1902;

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No. 700,906. Patented May 27, I902.

C. EDWARDS.

TYPE WRITING CLAVIER.

(Application filed Sept. 16, 1901.) (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

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- C. EDWARDS. TYPE WRITINGOLAVIEB.

(Application filed. Sept. 16, 1901.) NoModel.)

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INVENTOR lrrhp STATES ATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES EDIVARDS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

TYPE-WRITING CLAVIER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 700,906, dated. May 27,1902.

Application filed September 16, 1901. $eria1 No. 75,533. (Nb model.)

To (bl/3 whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES EDWARDS, a resident of Brooklyn, in thecounty of Kings and State of New York have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Type-Triting Olaviers; and I do hereby declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improved typewriting clavier, the object ofthe invention being to provide a machine of this character whose touchwill be as near as possible identical with the complete machine andwhich will when a key is struck give forth a sound similar to that oftype striking the platen on an ordinary type-writing machine.

A further object is to provide a type-Writing clavier which willresemble in all essentials the type-operating mechanism of a typewriter.

A further object is to provide a type-writing clavier with improvedmechanism for recording or enumerating the number of words spelled.

A further object is to provide a machine of this character with improvedmeans for supporting the copy in convenient and proper position for theoperator.

A further object is to provide an improved type-writing clavier in whichthe working parts are supported and mounted on a single frame or cradlewhich can be readly removed from the casin g when desired.

With these objects in view the invention consists in certain novelfeatures of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, aswill be more fully hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective viewillustrating my improvements. Fig. 2 is atop view with a portion of thecasing removed. Fig. 3 is a view in longitudinal section. Fig. 4 is aview illustrating the recording mechanism. Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view.Fig. 6 is a detail view of the clicker and its mounting, and Fig. 7 is aView of the cradle or frame with the key-levers and springs removed.

Heretofore it has been necessary in order to enable a beginner to learnthe rudimentary art of type-Writing to use a complete typewritingmachine, which necessitated the subjection of the machine to the hardestkind of usage, to its great injury and to the expense of its owner, andnecessitating, particularly in the schools, the purchase or renting of alarge number of machines, which are a constant trouble and expense, andto avoid these annoyances and expense and provide a machine of theabovemention ed character which will be not only a source of greatbenefit to the student, but likewise one of entertainment andencouragement as well, the present invention was devised.

The cost of manufacture of my improved machine is extremely small andplaces within the reach of all the opportunity of mastering the art oftype-writing, and while its simplicity of construction decreases thecost of manufacture, still it is constructed to Withstand the hardtreatment to which it is subjected by a beginner.

1 represents the casing proper, which is of general rectangular shapeand provided with the forwardly-projecting open frame 2, surrounding theforwardly-projecting key-levers 3 and spacing-bar 4, and said casing andframe are preferably supported on cushions 5, secured to the bottomthereof. The gen eral shape of the casing may be varied to suit thetaste of the trade, and the frame 2 may be dispensed with, if desired.In fact, the shape and construction ofthe casing are immaterial and maybe varied without departing from my invention.

The casing 1 is preferably composed of cast metal, with removable cover6 and back 7 to facilitate access to the working parts, and to the endsof the casing a swinging copy-supporting bracket 8 is pivoted andadapted to be folded down onto frame 2 when not in use, but when in useis supported in an inclined position by enlargements forming stops 9 onthe rear of cover .6, the side arms of the bracket being bowed betweentheir ends to permit them to freely pass similar enlargements at theforward edge of the cover. A suitable rest or holder 10, which likewiseforms the name-plate of the machine, is secured on the cover and assiststhe bracket 8 to support the copy in proper position for the operator.

Secured in the casing l by means of screws projected through the ends ofthe casing is my improved cradle or frame 11, which serves as a supportfor all of the working parts of the key-lever action and com prises abase 12, having a raised platform at its rear, ends 13, and a rearconnecting-bar 14, connecting the upper rear edges of the ends. A shaft16 is secured at its ends in the ends 13 and disposed just in advance ofplatform 15 and has pivoted thereon all of the key-levers 3, likewisethe shift key-lever 17, which will be more fully hereinafter described.The key-levers are made with holes or openings near their ends toreceive shaft 16, their extreme inner ends resting on platform 15 andalined thereby, and spacing sleeves or Washers 18 are located on theshaft 16 to space the levers a proper distance apart. The levers, whichare of various lengths to form the several banks of keys, are disposedbetween and held in proper relation to each other by theteeth of a combor guide plate 19, secured to the inner face of the front of easing 1and extending down into thekey-lever space and adapted to alwaysmaintain the levers in proper position, preventing the striking togetherof the keys and at the same time permit the removal of the cradle andlevers when dropped down through the open bottom of the casing.

A rod 20 is disposed transversely beneath the key-levers and is bent atits ends and pivotally secured to the ends 13 of cradle 8, springs 21being provided for maintaining the rod normally against the lower edgesof the key-levers. A bracket 22, preferably of cast metal, is secured tothe base 12 of the cradle by a screw 23, which also serves to secure aspring-clicker 24 in the bracket, which latter is made with parallelarms 25, having inwardly-bent fingers at their ends to limit the upwardmovement of the clicker, thus maintaining it normally spaced from rod 20to give to the keys the proper touch, as will be hereinafter explained.This spring serves to sustain the impact on the key-levers and returnsthem to within a short distance of the normal positions and is made witha central depression to click or sound when a key is depressed, andhence give forth a sound as nearly like that of a type striking a platenas is possible.

cated beneath the rear bar 14, and the forward ends of the springs orlong arms thereof are bent sharply at right angles and made Thesesprings 26 with hook-shaped ends to receive the lower edge of akey-lever, and it will be seen that owing to this construction andmounting of these springs 26 they can be easily and quickly removed andreplaced,and as the strain thereon is distributed throughout the entirelength of their long arms they will stand the strain to which they aresubjected for an indefinite period; but should one become broken or bentanother can be quickly substituted in its place. The frame or cradle 8is provided centrally between its ends with an integral notched support8 for the rod 27 to maintain the same horizontal and prevent saggingthereof due to the combined strain of all of the springs 26.

The shift key-lever 17 is bowed between its ends to permit it to bedepressed without depressing rod 20, and hence not interfere with theproper touch of the keys nor sound the clicker, and an individual spring29 is provided for this shift key-lever of the same construction assprings 26, save of greater strength.

The spacing-bar 4 is secured on levers 30, fulcrumed on shaft 16 at therespective ends thereof, and are provided with individual springs 31,similar to spring 29, and suitable stops 32 are secured in the ends ofeasing l to limit the downward movement of the levers 30.

A bell is supported above the inner ends of the key-levers by means of ametal arm 34, secured to bar 14, and is adapted to be struck by aknocker 34, carried by the free end ofa bell-cran k spring-lever35,fulcrumed between its ends on a screw 36, located at the rear of thefront plate of easing 1, and the other end of said spring-lever 35 ismade hook-shaped to receive the key-lever 3, on which is mounted thebutton or key containing the period, as this marks the end of asentence, and hence is the nearest approach to the end ofa written linepossible on this machine. By providing thisspring-lever 35 it isnecessary in order to have the bell sound to strike the .key a sharpblow, such as is absolutely essential in correctly operating atype-writing machine, and hence this key gives to the student hisexample of just how to strike the keys, as he soon becomes accustomed tostriking this key so as to sound the bell and unconsciously strikes theother keys just the same, thereby perfecting his touch.

To the inner face of the front plate of casing 1 a frame 36 is securedand supports a shaft 37, projecting through the front plate and havingsecured thereon a dial 38 and a milled knob 39 to permit the manualturning of the dial to O, as indicated bya fixed pointer secured to thecasing. If desired, a pointer may be secured on the shaft and the dialfixed to the casing. A ratchet-wheel 40 is fixed on this shaft 37 behindthe front plate and adapted to be operated by a pivoted dog 41 on thefree end of a lever 42, pivoted between its ends, a friction-brake 43,comprisingaspring secured to the frame 36 and hearing on shaft 37,affording ample resistance to the turning of the shaft to prevent itsbeing rotated too far by a single movement of dog 41, while an auxiliarydog 4t is provided to assist dog L1 in preventing the turning of thedial 531 in the wrong direction. A rod orlink 45 is connected at itsupper end tothe end of lever a2 and is made with a hook at its lower endto engage one of the spacing-bar levers, and hence be operated everytime the spacing-bar is struck to register on the dial a word spelled.Hence it will be seen that by providing this recording or registeringmechanism the operator is enabled to tell just how many words he canwrite in a given time and can also keep account of the number of timeshe spells a given word, which is of great value to the student, asalllessons are prepared for spelling certain words a number of times.

The operation of my improvements is as follows: In spelling out thewords the keys are depressed in their proper order. The first movementof a key overcomes spring 26,when the key-lever engages rod 20 andforces the same downward, thus bending spring-clicker and making thesound which is similar to a type striking the platen, and when thefinger is removed from the key the clicker returns the rod 20 in thedirection of its normal position, and hence moves the key-lever backthus far, the spring 26 completely returning it to its normal positionand maintaining the perfect alinement of the keys. This motion of thekey-lever gives the precise sensation that is received from striking thekey of a type-writing machine, and when the word is spelled the operatorstrikes the space-bar and records a word spelled, as above explained,and when he finishes a sentence he strikes the period-key and sounds thebell, if he is using the proper touch; otherwise the bell will notsound, and he knows he must change his blow on the keys in order tosecure the proper style of writing.

In order to provide means for permitting the depths of stroke of thekey-lever to be varied to suit the varying tastes of operators or therequirements of instructors, I provide at the rear of cradle S a plate50, having slots therein at its ends to receive set-screws 52 and permitits adjustment up and down, and at the upper edge of the platean'inwardlyprojecting shoulder or flange 51 is provided, forming a stopextending over the short ends of the key-levers, hence limiting theupward movement of the short ends of the levers and the downstroke ofthe keys at the long ends thereof.

In the drawings I have illustrated a singlecase keyboard; but I wouldhave it understood that I may employ what is known as the double case,which requires a larger number of key-levers, and can make variouschanges in the arrangement of the keys to conform to the varioustype-writin g machines on the market.

Various slight changes might be resorted to in the general form andarrangement of the several parts described without departing from thespirit and scope of my invention, and hence I would have it understoodthat I do not wish to limit myself to the precise details set forth, butconsider myself at liberty to make such slight changes and alterationsas fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. A type-writing clavier, comprising a series of key-levers andsounding mechanism common to all of said series of key-levers andadapted to be actuated by any one of them.

2. A type-writing clavier, comprising a series of key-levers, and aspring-clicker adapted to be operated by any key-lever of the series andto sustain the force of a blow on the keys.

A type-writingclavier, comprising a casing, key-levers supportedtherein, a copyholding bracket comprising a yoke having its arms pivotedto the ends of the casing and adapted to be folded down and surround thekey-levers, and a stop on the end of the casing for holding the bracketin position to support a copy.

i. A type-writing clavier, comprising a casing, key-levers supportedtherein, a copyholding bracket pivoted at its ends to the ends of thecasing, a stop projecting from the casing for holding the bracket in aninclined position and a plate or rest upon the casing and cooperatingwith the bracket to support a copy.

5. In a type-writing clavier, the combination with a frame or cradle, ofa key-lever mounted in said cradle, a spring-clicker operated by thelever when depressed and a spring normally holding the lever out ofengagement with the clicker.

b. In a type-writing clavier, the combination with a frame or cradle, ofa shaft secured in said cradle,key-levers fulcrumed near their ends onthe shaft, springs holding the long ends of the lovers elevated and aplatform on the cradle supporting the short ends of the levers andalining the keys on the long ends of the levers.

7. In a type-writing clavier, the combination with a frame or cradle, ofa shaft secured in said eradle,a series of key-levers fulcrumed neartheir inner ends on said shaft, springs holding the long ends of thelevers elevated, a platform limiting the downward movement of the shortends of the levers and hence alining the keys on the long ends of thelevers, and adjustable means for limiting the depth of movement of thekeys.

8. In a type-writing clavier, the combination with a frame-or cradle, ofa shaft secured in said cradle,a series of key-levers fulcrumed neartheir inner ends onsaid shaft, springs holding the long ends of thelovers elevated,

an alining-platform limiting the downward movement of the short ends ofthe levers, and a stop adj ustably secured to the cradle and adapted tolimit the upward movement of the short ends of the levers.

9. In a type-writing clavier, the combination with a frame or cradle, ofa key-lever fulcrumed near its inner end in said cradle, a rod extendingtransversely above said lever, a transverse bar on the cradle in rear ofsaid rod, aspring bearing between its ends on said rod, its short enddisposed beneath the bar and its long end bent at righta-ngles andprovided with a hook engaging the lower edge of the long end of thekey-lever.

10. In a type-writing clavier, the combination with a cradle, and aseries of key-levers fulcrumed near their inner ends therein, of aspring-clicker secured to the cradle beneath the key-levers, a framesecured to the cradle and limiting the upward movement of the clicker, arod bent at its ends and pivotally secured to the cradle, springsholding said rod against the lower edge of the levers and individualsprings holding the several keylevers above the clicker.

11. In a type-writing clavier, the combination with a cradle, and aseries of key-levers fulcrumed near their inner ends therein, of aspring-clicker secured to the cradle beneath the key-levers, a rod bentat its ends and pivotally secured to the cradle and adapted to operatethe clicker when a key-lever is operated, springs holding said rodagainst the lower edge of the levers, individual springs holding theseveral key-levers elevated and one of said key-levers arched or bowedto avoid contact with the rod.

12. In a type-writing clavier, the combination with a series ofkey-levers, of a bell, and means intermediate of the bell and one of thekey-levers for sounding the bell only when said key-lever is depressed.

13. In a type-writing clavier, the combination with a casing and aseries of key-levers supported therein, of a bell in said casing, aspring-lever in said casing, a knocker on one end of the spring-lever,and a link connecting the other end of said spring-lever with one ofsaid key-levers.

14. In a type-writing clavier, the combination with a casing, ofkey-levers supported in the casing, spacing-bar levers also supported inthe casing and carrying a spacing-bar, a dial on the casing, aratchet-wheel for turning the dial to register with a fixed pointer, alever fulcrumed between its ends in the casing, a dog on one end of thecasing to turn the ratchet-wheel a distance of one tooth each time thelever is operated, and a link connecting the other end of the lever withone of the spacing-bar levers.

15. In a type-writing clavier, the combination with a casing of a frametherein, a shaft supported in the frame and projecting through thecasing, a dial secured on the shaft in front of the casing, aratchet-wheel on the shaft in the casing, a spring frictionbrakeengaging said shaft, a lever fulcrumed between its ends in said casing,a pivoted dog carried by one end of the lever and in engagement with theteeth of the ratchet-wheel, a spacing-bar lever projecting out of thecasin g and a link connecting said levers.

16. In a type-writing clavier, the combination with a casing, of a frametherein, a shaft supported in the frame and projecting through thecasing, a dial secured on the shaft in front of the casing, a fixedpointer registering with the dial, a ratchet-wheel on said shaft in thecasing, a dog for turning said wheel, a spacing-bar for operating saiddog, another dog for preventing the turning of the ratchet in but onedirection and a button on the center of the dial for manually turningthe same.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES EDWARDS.

